Join the group for a hike above the scenic gorge of the Mississippi River on the St. Paul side. The river lies in a relatively narrow, deep gorge at this point, a unique geological condition found nowhere else along the entire length of the river. The Mississippi Gorge was formed as the Mississippi River cuts away the soft sandstone that supported an upper layer of harder limestone and shale. Over thousands of years, the sandstone wore away and the limestone fell to the bottom of the river creating the gorge we see today. The construction of nearby Lock and Dam No. 1 was completed in 1917. The 30-foot high dam provided a 9 1/2-foot channel from St. Paul to Minneapolis. Reconstruction of the dam took place in 1929 and then again from 1978 to 1983.
Directions: From I-94, on the western edge of St. Paul, take the Cretin/Vandalia exit and go south about 1.5 miles on Cretin Avenue to Summit Avenue. Turn west (right) on Summit Avenue and continue to where Summit Avenue “tees” into Mississippi Avenue River Boulevard. On the southwest corner of the “tee” is a monument and a parking lot. Park in the lot or on the street near the St. Paul Seminary and meet at the monument.
Map to hike start point, near
2279 Summit Ave
St Paul, MN 55105-1002
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This page was last updated on March 1, 2015.
